The next couple of weeks are the perfect time to get into Dragon Quest IX if you haven’t already. Starting today (July 31) GameStop is giving away free downloads of a new DQIX map, “Zoma,” for players, with some locations offering unique meet-up gatherings for Dragon Quest nerds.

Then on August 7 (that’s next Saturday, you calendarless fools), “select” Best Buy outlets will toss around the “Estark” map and then from August 7 to September 19, “select” malls will distribute the “Malroth” map and hold sampling events for the game. I’m assuming there won’t be food samples, just display DS units with the chance to play Dragon Quest IX for a few minutes. Just a guess.

These maps can be obtained through the Tag Mode in the game, which you can turn on at the Quester’s Rest Inn in Stornway. To find out more about those mysterious “select” locations and their offerings, hit up the link to find out more. 

Dragon Quest IX is a turn-based RPG for the Nintendo DS, released with record-breaking sales last month in the United States and a year beforehand in Japan.

EA has big news for fans who buy the limited edition of Medal of Honor; Battlefield 3 beta code! Yes, EA has announced today that copies of the limited edition Medal of Honor game will come with an invitation to the Battlefield 3 beta. Not only does this add more to the limited edition version of Medal of Honor, this also officially confirms that there will be a Battlefield 3 in the near future. As to when those beta keys can be used, sometime in 2011.  

The limited edition of Medal of Honor will be priced at $59.99 in the US and comes with weapons, ammo, camouflage, and the Battlefield 3 beta. The PS3 copy however will include the full Medal of Honor Frontline game. Medal of Honor comes out October 12th.

Some movies should become video games and some video games should become movies and some other video games practically ARE movies (I’m looking at you, Metal Gear Solid). Imagine my surprise and delight colliding with the fact I do not own a Wii and barrel-rolling down the interstate when I found out the new Metroid: The Other M will be accompanied by a 2-hour CG film. Say what?!

A “theater mode” will pull all the game’s cut scenes into one piece, allowing gamers to relive the awesomeness of the beautiful cinematics without replaying the game or letting movie clips suffice. According to an interview with Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, the theater mode version of the cinematics results in a 2-hour long movie divided into chapters—similar to a normal movie you would play on a DVD. The parts in between animated cutscenes will be pre-recorded gameplay, which sadly, won’t be your own. It’s a win-win situation: players who beat the game can relive it in all their laziness and players stuck on a part can watch the film to pick up hints. 

Metroid: The Other M comes out on the Nintendo Wii on August 31, 2010.

Today marks the third week we are doing our new weekly FRIDAY PRIZEDAY!  Incase you missed what that all means we are giving away 1600 MS POINTS today.  all you have to do to win is find this week's PRIZE word!  Once you find it simply send an email with the prize word and your contact info to prizes@sfx-360.com to enter for your chance to win! Winners will be chosen at random! Better get to looking around!

Whoa. deja-vu. Didn't we just see this same exact deal a couple weeks back? In anycase, the Madcatz Wireless Fender Wooden Stratocaster Replica is back and on sale again for $99.99. You can grab the deal here which also includes free shipping.

Item Description:

Mad Catz' highly coveted Wireless Fender Wooden Stratocaster Replica is the guitar to own for any Rock Band enthusiast who wants to rock in style with unparalleled performance plus the added freedom of wireless connectivity. This is no cheap plastic toy, wood from the same stock as a real Fender guitar is what this axe is made of. The high gloss paint finish will make your guitar shine and will be the envy of all your friends. The premium-quality strum bar and fret buttons ensure every note will be delivered on time and with the highest level of durability available on any Rock Band guitar. An official Fender strap completes the look and ensures your axe will look as good as the real thing on and off stage.

July has come and gone. The last Friday of the month means the last Rock Band DLC Weekly of July. If you thought July was a weird month of DLC, wait till you see what we are starting with come August. There is no specific band track pack for next week, instead you are getting nothing but random new bands that have been selected by Harmonix. It's like they didn't know what to do next week so they put bands they have never turned into DLC in a hat and this is what we got. Just check out the bands below and let us know if you have heard of any of them because I honestly don't. By the way, Blondie is not the Blondie you are thinking of.

Available for 360, Playstation 3, & Wii August 3rd

• Blondie - "Rapture"
• dc Talk – “Jesus Freak”
• The Decemberists – “The Perfect Crime # 2”
• Eagles of Death Metal – “I Only Want You” +
• Eels – “Saturday Morning” +
• Family Force 5 – “Love Addict”
• KMFDM – “Sturm & Drang”
• La Roux –"Bulletproof" +

Shark week begins August 1st and in honor of Shark Week, Sony has released a Special Shark Week PS3 Dynamic Theme up in their store which actually looks very good. The theme is $4.00 and features a moving background and its own unique sounds. If you love Shark Week, this is the them to get. See a demo of the them below.

Yeah so remember that Ranger Pack DLC announced forever ago for Metro 2033? No? Thats ok if you don't its been awhile afterall. Well anyway its arriving next week for the low price of 240 points. Incase you forgot players can expect the DLC to reduce your already nonexistent ammo dramatically and increase the damage of attacks, from your enemies and well yours too of course.  It will also bring a few new achievements with it as well.

In preparation for the new Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light game for the XBLA fans can now pick up avatar items as well as a premium theme for their beloved consoles.   And yes you can buy Lara's outfit for your avatar, however the first guy I see wearing it will be quickly be removed from my friends list!  There are just somethings you can't unsee! And the Lara doll is just creepy, no really it is!

There is a reason why Tiesto is one of the most popular DJs in the world and was surely missed in the first game but DJ Hero 2 looks to be making up for that with DJ Hero 2. Check out the video below of what it takes to become a video game character.